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Getting started with Jira workflows
Jira Software is a proven super tool for software development. Jira Service Management, by comparison, offers a low-code environment to help deploy and refine ITSM processes, as well as processes for non-IT teams.
Even business teams, such as legal, HR, and finance, can make their service operations more efficient, productive, and customer-focused using Jira Service Management.
But designing and successfully implementing a process is no small task.
An effective process streamlines tasks, ensuring things get done correctly and promptly. You need to make sure that all required information is recorded and made available to the right stakeholders at the right step in the workflow.
The success of your process depends on how well the workflow is executed. Always keep these two requirements in mind:
- The workflow should be easy for people to follow.
- The process should be repeatable – new team members should be able to follow the process with minimal training so things don’t fall through the cracks.
To keep things humming along, many Jira administrators turn to workflow automation.
At the heart of Jira is its powerful and flexible workflow engine, and you can start automating processes as soon as you create your Jira project, even if your processes aren’t perfect yet. You can refine your automations later based on feedback from the field. This flexibility is what makes Jira so powerful.
If you’re new to Jira workflows, here are some resources to get you started.
Free learning resources
- Watch this basic workflow overview (under 3 min)
- Read more about Jira Workflows on Atlassian.com
- Read more about advanced workflows on Atlassian.com
- For Jira Cloud, explore these useful resources
- Watch this on-demand webinar by Rachel Wright.
Paid learning resources
Atlassian University
You can enroll for $300-$400 per course; but check with your company first. (They may already have team access!)
Atlassian University provides excellent courses.
We recommend the following:
LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn learning requires a paid subscription: check with your company to see if your team already has access.
LinkedIn Learning offers several in-depth courses, such as Jira Software: Advanced Administration. Though this course is from 2017, it’s still excellent for learning many advanced Jira workflow concepts. The lessons explain conditions, validators, post functions, transition screens, and many other features.
Do more with apps
Once you start using Jira workflows, you will probably want additional functionality for more effective automation.
For example, you might need conditional approval or a different process implemented for items pertaining to one type of issue (or budget, department, role, product, etc.), but not another.
Additional workflow extensions offered by third-party workflow apps sold through the Atlassian Marketplace can help you automate more of your Jira processes.
Only you or your team truly knows your priorities and key challenges, the problems you’re trying to solve, and how you plan to use Jira for setting up workflows and automating processes. Whether you want to maximize Jira Software or Jira Service Management, whether you’re in Cloud, Server, or Data Center, there are plenty of resources available to help.
Last updated: 2023-03-21
Inna Gordin
Inna is a VP of Content and Customer Education at Appfire and an avid supporter of the Atlassian ecosystem.
See all content by Inna Gordin
